Moneyball (2011)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Tim S

  
  For the most part, sports movies are not really my thing. I actually like sports movies that aren't really about the sport. Movies like Rocky, Field of Dreams, Slap Shot... they're all movies about the characters and not the backdrop. I really wanted to like Moneyball… More
  For the most part, sports movies are not really my thing. I actually like sports movies that aren't really about the sport. Movies like Rocky, Field of Dreams, Slap Shot... they're all movies about the characters and not the backdrop. I really wanted to like Moneyball because it falls in the same line in that it isn't necessarily about Baseball; instead it's about managing a baseball team. Yet, it winds up being about the sport rather the characters in spite of itself. It's not really the movie's fault, in this instance. It's based on a true story and in order for the story to work properly, it kind of has to fall into this trap. It's a shame that it does because it's very interesting up until about the second act and then it starts to feel like it has nowhere to go after that. At least it did to me. I don't fault anybody's performances, the director or any of the people involved really. It's just that it just winds up feeling a bit cliche'd and tiresome. Not for lack of style, or even lack of trying. It's good, definitely above mediocre, but it never manages to quite knock it out of the park the way it should.

• Mark R

  
  American underdog sports movies are far from a new concept, but rarely does one come together as well as Bennett Miller's MONEYBALL. It's something of a hard sell, given that the film more concerned with statistics and percentages than the game of baseball itself, yet… More
  American underdog sports movies are far from a new concept, but rarely does one come together as well as Bennett Miller's MONEYBALL. It's something of a hard sell, given that the film more concerned with statistics and percentages than the game of baseball itself, yet writers Steve Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin craft a surprisingly compelling story, and Miller's understated, almost old-fashioned direction allows the beauty of the story to play out naturally, despite a slightly overlong runtime. As previously mentioned, MONEYBALL is more of a business film than a sports film, telling the story of the under-funded Oakland Athletics' 2002 Major League season, a season where general manager Billy Beane (Brad Pitt) and freshly graduated economics major Peter Brand (Jonah Hill) shook the game's backroom strategy to the foundations. Brand's radical approach (selecting a team based on statistics rather than individual performance) isn't exactly the most cinematic of concepts, yet Zaillian's excellent story construction coupled with the wonderful dialogue from Sorkin simplifies what could be a densely intimidating and complex subject, with breezy, relatable, and very entertaining results. Much like Sorkin's Oscar-winning THE SOCIAL NETWORK screenplay, MONEYBALL uses the real-life events as a frame to hang much grander ideas on, and even for viewers unfamiliar or uninterested in the sport, there is much here to enjoy. No discussion of MONEYBALL would be complete without special attention being paid to the fabulous double act of Pitt and Hill, both arguably delivering the finest performances of their careers. The two play so well off of one another, with Pitt in particular revealing a little seen everyman quality which fits his character, and the film, perfectly. Beane lives everyday with the spectre of past failure hovering around him, yet his ambition is never shaken, even in the face of tremendous adversity. It's a remarkably mature performance from Pitt capping off a very strong year (inculding similarly solid work in THE TREE OF LIFE), suggesting that he has finally shaken totally free of his pretty boy 'star' image to become a vastly talented actor, the Robert Redford heir apparent which many have been foreseeing for years. Hill also surprises in an against-type role, but is unquestionably second fiddle to Pitt. There is strong competition from several films in this year's Oscar race, yet MONEYBALL more than deserves to stand alongside the best of them. Subtle, heartfelt and inspiring with perfectly pitched performances, Miller, Zaillian, Sorkin and Pitt knock it out of the park. tinribs27.wordpress.com

• Jameson W

  
  Really good film! Great script from Aaron Sorkin, and solid performances all around...

• Spencer S

  
  It seems strange to me that sports movies keep dominating the box office, but it's in no way a trivial endeavor to make these kinds of heartwarming films. The athletes and coaches, and even general managers in them are real people and most of these movies are based on true… More
  It seems strange to me that sports movies keep dominating the box office, but it's in no way a trivial endeavor to make these kinds of heartwarming films. The athletes and coaches, and even general managers in them are real people and most of these movies are based on true events, or else they downplay to the sensibilities of children. These are the best kind of hero worship films and it's not because the heroes in them are superhuman. On the contrary, we watch because they could do it so in retrospect so can we. What feels like the antithesis of that is Moneyball, a darker look at the winning streaks of the almighty teams that gave us legends such as Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and Sammy Sosa. This film decisively cuts down talent and guts, the glory of being the best, and simply states that the winners aren't always perfect, aren't always believed in and rooted for with the same gumption and moxie as the other, better teams. Baseball is money, and the reasoning behind the book and subsequent film is there, it's a game changer. What happens, of course, is that we root for them anyway. The Oakland A's took the nation by storm in 2002 by proving that the nostalgic days of baseball lore aren't always the most useful for winning, and it's not the big players that baseball rakes in that count, but the efforts of an entire team. Though the underdog isn't always empathetic the film does follow General Manager Billy Bean, who only ever wanted to live up to the hype he was given long ago when he was simply a player. It's more his story than anyone else's. Nothing in this film works the same as regular baseball films, with the gravitas after the big win, and the unbelievable strength of a team of misfits and outcasts. There isn't really a villain, and you can't blame the system because Beane is trying to work it so he can win the title. Beane, who acts first as a stoic figure and then has an emotional breakdown is impressively human, detached from everything else yet contingent to its success. Though it wasn't the hard hitting dramatic venture I was hoping for, or the feel good movie of the year, it was really enjoyable and surely befitting some praise.

• Kase V

  
  'Moneyball' may fall short of movie of the year, but this film could have some Oscar nominations heading its way. Directed with a steady hand and driven by a talented cast, 'Moneyball' becomes much more than a film about baseball. It is a film about intellect,… More
  'Moneyball' may fall short of movie of the year, but this film could have some Oscar nominations heading its way. Directed with a steady hand and driven by a talented cast, 'Moneyball' becomes much more than a film about baseball. It is a film about intellect, guts, and taking on the system, and Brad Pitt makes every line and every second irresistible.

• Stella D

  
  good script by sorkin and zaillian and a great performance by pitt keep the film moving and consistently entertaining for the 2 hour run time. don't know how it would go down with non baseball fans though

• Daniel P

  
  Surprisingly good film... and though Billy Beane's refrain throughout is "It's hard not to get romantic about baseball," this is a baseball movie that's as romantic as the rest of them. I've been meaning to read the book for a long time, but have feared… More
  Surprisingly good film... and though Billy Beane's refrain throughout is "It's hard not to get romantic about baseball," this is a baseball movie that's as romantic as the rest of them. I've been meaning to read the book for a long time, but have feared that's it's going to be too heavy on the stats. I'm now worried that when I read the book, I'm going to exclaim "Wow, this is about so much more than on-base percentage!" and think less of the film. But as a baseball fan, and one who doesn't study too hard, this film was perfect for me: moneyball is in my vocabulary (particularly because I cheer for the low-budget Blue Jays), and this film makes the ideas and the people behind them accessible for the casual fan without alienating those I-don't-know-a-thing-about-Bill-James people like myself. Pitt is enjoyable, playing basically himself, and Jonah Hill is an interesting nominee for the Best Supporting Actor Oscar, because his character really does have an arc in the film... maybe a better one than Billy Beane himself. And if you're still not convinced to watch it: Aaron Sorkin worked on the script, and it's taut like all his other work. Enough said. Good flick.

• Mike S

  
  Compelling sports drama, based on the true story of Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane, and how he in collaboration with various player analysts, developed a groundbreaking strategy for creating a successful baseball team, in spite of limited finances. Brad Pitt and Jonah… More
  Compelling sports drama, based on the true story of Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane, and how he in collaboration with various player analysts, developed a groundbreaking strategy for creating a successful baseball team, in spite of limited finances. Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill fulfill their roles exceptionally, and the way Billy and Peter put their heads together to realize their philosophy, is really interesting to follow and keeps you glued to the seat. It may be easy to think of baseball as just a bunch of guys swinging a bat, but if there's anything this film underscores, it's that there's a science to every sport, that involves a lot of complex variables and constantly changing factors. You don't need to be a baseball nerd to enjoy it though. Personally, my interest in the sport is quite scarce; I like playing it, but not so much watching it. Rather, the winning formula of this movie is owed to the strong lead performances, a well-polished script and the fascinating, moreover inspiring qualities of the story. The only aspects in which it drops the ball somewhat is in the pacing and running time. A higher tempo would have been preferable, and I don't think it would have suffered from being a little shorter in duration. In all other regards, however, it scores a clean, definite and hall-of-fame-worthy home run.

• Tim S

  
  I hate baseball, but I loved this movie. Brad Pitt is good, but I was more impressed with the script and how the film was executed. Big praise to Bennett Miller who took a good sports story and made it a great movie. I found myself cheering even though I knew what happened at the end.… More
  I hate baseball, but I loved this movie. Brad Pitt is good, but I was more impressed with the script and how the film was executed. Big praise to Bennett Miller who took a good sports story and made it a great movie. I found myself cheering even though I knew what happened at the end. One of the better movies I have seen this year for sure.

• Sanjay R

  
  This movie is great if you are a baseball fan and still very good if you are not. The screenplay is great: It is hilarious and contains a lot of heart. Everyone in this movie, particularly Pitt and Hill, turns in a great performance. Overall, this is not another cheesy sports movie,… More
  This movie is great if you are a baseball fan and still very good if you are not. The screenplay is great: It is hilarious and contains a lot of heart. Everyone in this movie, particularly Pitt and Hill, turns in a great performance. Overall, this is not another cheesy sports movie, this is the best sports movie I have ever seen.

• Melvin W

  
  Billy Beane: There are rich teams and there are poor teams, then there's fifty-feet of crap, and then there's us.  "What are you really worth?" After seeing Moneyball, it has just taken over as my favorite movie of 2011. Before that it was close between Win Win… More
  Billy Beane: There are rich teams and there are poor teams, then there's fifty-feet of crap, and then there's us.  "What are you really worth?" After seeing Moneyball, it has just taken over as my favorite movie of 2011. Before that it was close between Win Win and Rise of the Planet of the Apes. No longer, because this is a frontrunner. I haven't yet seen movies like Drive or The Ides of March, but from what I've seen this year, Moneyball is the clear best. There is nothing lacking here. For me this is a dream of a movie.  First and foremost, I love baseball. It has been pretty much my whole life since I was four years old. I love playing it, watching it, and evaluating it. The job that this film shows off is my dream job. So going in, I knew I was going to enjoy it just because of that angle. But the movie is so much more than a baseball movie. You don't have to be like me to enjoy it. You could no jackshit about baseball, and still come away from this movie fascinated. It's so well made on every level, that the real baseball aspect of it doesn't even really matter. But if you are into baseball, you'll know all about how there are large market teams, and how there are small market teams. This fact is what hurts the game the most. There are a few teams out there now like, the Yankees, the Red Sox, and the Phillies, that can just go out and buy their teams. They have the money to bring all the big names to their organizations, while teams like the A's or my Indian's have to develop players until they start to become stars. Then the cycle starts all over again because they become free agents; then the Yankees swoop in and offer them 15 million a year, while teams like the A's and Indians have no chance at matching that. That's why everybody hates the Yankees.  This story is a true one of Billy Beane and how he took an idea and began to change the game. He knew he couldn't outbid big market teams for big name players. He knew he would have to look where no one else was in order to find players that could help the A's win. With the help of Peter Brand(fictionalized name of a real person) he begins to does this. That year they win as many regular season games as the Yankees and make the playoffs, all with no names that weren't on anybody's wish list's at the start of the year. Although he didn't win the World Series that year, or even a playoff series; he did change the game. The Red Sox began to use that method and ended up winning their first World Series since 1918, 2 years later. And the most likable thing about Beane to me, is that he turned Boston down. They offered him the 12.5 million dollars to become their GM, which would have been the most any GM had ever made, but he decided to stay with his small market A's and that is where he is at now. You got to like everyone involved here. This sure Oscar Nominated Picture, boasts a cast with the likes of Brad Pitt(sure to get a nomination), Jonah Hill, and Phillip Seymour Hoffman. Aaron Sorkin writes the screenplay, after coming of his Oscar winning screenplay last year for The Social Network. The movie looks great and the editing is marvelous. I loved how they cut together real clips from that season, with their reenactments. Moneyball really is an exceptional movie. It is one of those films that when you describe it to someone, they say, "How is that a movie?" Who wants to watch a movie about statistics? Well, watch it and you'll see. Baseball fan or no baseball fan; odds are you will love this. Billy Beane: I pay you to get on first, not get thrown out at second.  

• Sam B

  
  Meticulously crafted and featuring an excellent slew of performances, Moneyball tells an entertaining and meaningful true story which also inverts (some but not all) sports movie cliches to great effect and comes out on top as a result. Many have labeled Moneyball the baseball version… More
  Meticulously crafted and featuring an excellent slew of performances, Moneyball tells an entertaining and meaningful true story which also inverts (some but not all) sports movie cliches to great effect and comes out on top as a result. Many have labeled Moneyball the baseball version of the "Social Network," which is quite accurate in some respects. But while that sounds like people are writing off this film as a rip-off of sorts, I think it should be taken as a fine compliment - Moneyball makes the ordinary into fascinating spectacle, and the extraordinary into something memorable.

• Dan S

  
  An engrossing, fascinating, superbly-acted baseball drama concerning hot-shot manager Billy Beane (Brad Pitt) and his newly Yale graduated genius sidekick (Jonah Hill) who determine how to get the most bang for their buck on their small-scale Oakland Athletics payroll, going after… More
  An engrossing, fascinating, superbly-acted baseball drama concerning hot-shot manager Billy Beane (Brad Pitt) and his newly Yale graduated genius sidekick (Jonah Hill) who determine how to get the most bang for their buck on their small-scale Oakland Athletics payroll, going after players based on numbers and a new kind of baseball strategy. Maybe I am a little biased, since this is exactly the stuff that enamors me, that being front-office sports decisions, but this movie was an absolute smash. Directed with confidence by Bennett Miller (his first film in six years, since the great "Capote"), he allows his lead star Pitt to effortlessly take over the screen and floor us with a great, realistic, sharp performance that will undoubtedly earn him another Oscar nomination. Jonah Hill is a surprising, yet ideal fit for the part of an overweight, slightly nerdy youngster on the rise (the polar opposite of Beane), and he is allowed to show both his dramatic and comedic muscle with precision and ease. The script lazily tries to shoehorn Beane's family life into the plot, which does not work well at all, which is the movie's biggest and most nagging flaw, but besides that, this thing is a treat from start to finish.

• Lorenzo v

  
  <i>"There are rich teams and there are poor teams, then there's fifty-feet of crap, and then there's us."</i> The story of Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane's successful attempt to put together a baseball club on a budget by employing… More
  <i>"There are rich teams and there are poor teams, then there's fifty-feet of crap, and then there's us."</i> The story of Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane's successful attempt to put together a baseball club on a budget by employing computer-generated analysis to draft his players. <center><font size=+2 face="Century Schoolbook"><b><u>REVIEW</u></b></font></center> The first genuine Oscar contender to land on our screens, this ostensible sports flick has set the bar very high indeed. Based on real events (and adapted from Michael Lewis' book "Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game"). Moneyball recounts the ground-breaking approach that General Manager Billy Beane (Brad Pitt) took to enable the Oakland Athletics, with their $40m payroll, to compete against sides like the Yankees who had $120m behind them. With only a handful of actual baseball scenes featured - mostly from the 20th match in the A's record-breaking 20 game winning streak - director Bennett Miller wisely sticks close to the utterly gripping off-field drama that screenwriters Aaron Sorkin and Steve Zaillian have superbly eked out with their pens. Brad Pitt proves his sense for picking career propelling roles is still flawless; his turn as the arrogant, charming, stubborn and intelligently forward-thinking Beane is a revelation, surely placing him as the early frontrunner for Best Actor come the awards season that's just around the corner. Throw in a well-measured, heartfelt performance from Jonah Hill and you have a film that will undoubtedly be tagged a classic in the not-too-distant future.

• Kyle F

  
  Moneyball could have easily been a very boring movie, but instead it is entertaining on many levels, humorous, exciting, and emotionally resonant. Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill, and Philip Seymour Hoffman deliver great performances, and the intelligent script and realistic direction play… More
  Moneyball could have easily been a very boring movie, but instead it is entertaining on many levels, humorous, exciting, and emotionally resonant. Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill, and Philip Seymour Hoffman deliver great performances, and the intelligent script and realistic direction play nicely against the simple but powerful score by Mychael Danna. One of the marvels of Moneyball is that it manages to be both slightly depressing and a feel-good movie at the same time.

• Alice S

  
  I prefer my baseball movies to be shiny and happy like *61 and not so dark and gloomy as this flick. Jonah Hill is fantastic though. He plays nerdy and meek so plainly; there's no self-consciousness about his usual raunchy persona. The silence preceding the trade decision,… More
  I prefer my baseball movies to be shiny and happy like *61 and not so dark and gloomy as this flick. Jonah Hill is fantastic though. He plays nerdy and meek so plainly; there's no self-consciousness about his usual raunchy persona. The silence preceding the trade decision, then Peter's hushed, triumphant fist clench is just passionate enough for the low-key character. Every one of Hill's slow blinks and tentative scratches of his moon-face seem to hold much more meaning than any of Brad Pitt's twitchy smiles or squints.

• Kevin C

  
  A relatively solid film. Moneyball reminds me very much of The Social Network, but lacks in ambitious style, emotional grip, moral/social nuances, effective soundtrack, memorable dialogue, and successfully keeping me awake for the entire run time.

• Luke B

  
  To some Moneyball may seem dry and boring. It's essentially a sports film with very little of its subject sport. Instead it focuses on numbers and statistics, and how sometimes these can be a good substitute for huge pay cheques. I have no real interest in any sport from any part… More
  To some Moneyball may seem dry and boring. It's essentially a sports film with very little of its subject sport. Instead it focuses on numbers and statistics, and how sometimes these can be a good substitute for huge pay cheques. I have no real interest in any sport from any part of the world, but I do love me a good sports movie. Moneyball is about Billy Beane, a man that works as a general manager to one of the lesser baseball teams. He is looking for that all important last win of the season, and has his own demons having been told he was going to be the next big thing when he was younger. This didn't exactly pan out, as the scouts failed to question whether his skills would battle against his confidence in the big leagues. These sections are told in brief flashbacks and give us a great insight into the character. They are not completely necessary, but they allow us to see why such a man isn't as motivated by money. Peter Brand comes in and explains that using complex maths, a cheaper team could indeed stand up against the bigger teams. It's a great underdog story, where every player is an underdog as well as the whole team. It shows us the importance of taking a risk, and how sometimes breaking conventions is the only way you might have a chance. Moneyball also works by not being all about success. The successes come with the failures, resulting in a well rounded and thoughtful film. Hill gives his best performance so far, and Pitt further cements himself as a great actor. Beware though, this is a talky movie, but one that you should be involved in.

• Drake T

  
  I wanted to like this film, but the dead-pan pacing, focus on baseball, overall subtle direction and my general lack of interest in Pitt's character (which is the driving force of Moneyball) just didn't cut it for me. I get the movie, I really do, it just caters to an… More
  I wanted to like this film, but the dead-pan pacing, focus on baseball, overall subtle direction and my general lack of interest in Pitt's character (which is the driving force of Moneyball) just didn't cut it for me. I get the movie, I really do, it just caters to an incredibly niche audience that could have easily been dissolved by exploring another character or two and their struggles with the premise (why wasn't there a more intimate look on Peter Brand or maybe even a deeper relationship between him and Beane?) Overall, a good film but far from great in my books.

• Manu G

  
  What are you really worth? Excellent Film! It's been a long time since they have bring a very good baseball film and here it is. I love baseball and this was like watching myself in this movie because this was one of my dreams as a child and teenager to be either a pro baseball… More
  What are you really worth? Excellent Film! It's been a long time since they have bring a very good baseball film and here it is. I love baseball and this was like watching myself in this movie because this was one of my dreams as a child and teenager to be either a pro baseball player or a scout. There was some great acting and the story is very real and classy. This movie goes on my list as one of the few best films this year. You gotta love baseball! Oakland Athletics general manager Billy Beane (Brad Pitt) is upset by his team's loss to the New York Yankees in the 2001 postseason. With the impending departure of star players Johnny Damon, Jason Giambi, and Jason Isringhausen to free agency, Beane attempts to devise a strategy for assembling a competitive team for 2002 but struggles to overcome Oakland's limited player payroll. During a visit to the Cleveland Indians, Beane meets Peter Brand (Jonah Hill), a young Yale economics graduate with radical ideas about how to assess players' value. Beane tests Brand's theory by asking whether he would have drafted him, Beane having been a Major League player before becoming general manager. Though scouts considered Beane a phenomenal player, his career in the Major Leagues was disappointing. After some prodding, Brand admits that he would not have drafted him until the ninth round and that Beane would probably have gone to college instead. Sensing opportunity, Beane hires Brand as the Athletics' assistant general manager. The team's scouts are first dismissive of and then hostile towards Brand's non-traditional sabermetric approach to scouting players. Rather than relying on the scouts' experience and intuition, Brand selects players based almost exclusively on their on base percentage (OBP). By finding players with a high OBP but characteristics that lead scouts to dismiss them, Brand assembles a team of undervalued players with far more potential than the A's hamstrung finances would otherwise allow. Despite vehement objections from the scouts, Beane supports Brand's theory and hires the players he selected, such as unorthodox submarine pitcher Chad Bradford (Casey Bond). Following the free agent signings, Beane finds that he also faces opposition from Art Howe (Philip Seymour Hoffman), the Athletics' manager. With tensions already high between them because of a contract dispute, Howe disregards Beane and Brand's strategy and plays the team in a traditional style despite their unsuitability. Beane is eventually forced to trade away the lone traditional star player (Carlos Peña) to force Howe to use the new recruits. Early in the season, the Athletics fare poorly, leading critics within and outside the team to dismiss the new method as a dismal failure. Beane convinces the owner to stay the course, and eventually the team's record begins to improve. Ultimately, the Athletics win an unprecedented 20 consecutive games, setting the American League record. Their streak is capped with a victory over the Kansas City Royals. Like many baseball players, Beane is superstitious and avoids attending or sometimes even following games as they are in progress. His family convinces him to go to the A's game against the Royals, as Oakland is already leading 110 after the third inning and appears set to continue their winning streak. Beane arrives, only to watch the team go to pieces and allow the Royals to even the score. Finally, the A's do clinch the victory with a walk-off home run by one of Brand's picks, Scott Hatteberg. Despite all their success, the A's lose in the first round of the postseason, this time to the Minnesota Twins. Beane is disappointed, but satisfied at having demonstrated the value of his and Brand's methods. In closing, the film notes that Beane passed up the opportunity to become the general manager of the Boston Red Sox, despite an offer of $12.5 million a year salary, which would have made him the highest paid GM in baseball history. Also noted is Boston's World Series victory soon after in 2004, based on the theories that Beane pioneered.

Read all 20 featured audience ratings